people-to-people diplomacy

Japanese athletes in the Taipei Universiade have been earning high praises in Taiwan since a series of photos of them cleaning a park was posted on social media Tuesday morning. [...] "This is true people-to-people diplomacy," someone else wrote. "Their likability is completely off the charts."

In recent months the United States has witnessed a heavy dose of partisan politics driving the nation’s dialogue, creating a deeper divide on important issues. In the process we have used political figures as scapegoats for the impairment caused by this very division. If this destructive pattern does not end, we will drain our most powerful resource for healing and understanding – I call it “domestic diplomacy,” dialogue that engages people to find commonalities and join together as one.

Australian high commissioner to India Harinder Sidhu feels that when two nations are forging a relationship they usually talk about political, diplomatic or economical tie-ups but what matters most is the link between people. Sidhu says Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop emphasizes on creating bonds through “fashion diplomacy” and India is one of the countries that tops the chart.

Marriyum Aurangzeb said that Pakistan was keen to encourage cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts to enhance and deepen the religious and cultural bonds which already existed between the two neighboring countries. She said that Pakistan would welcome any initiative by the Iranian government for further expansion in the cultural ties and shall take every possible step to introduce each other's culture to the people of both the countries.

The cultural ties and bilateral trade growth between Canada and India is growing stronger by the day and it is important to realize the role art and culture plays in expanding the socio-economic balance of a country. [...] An international project celebrating 150 years of Canada and 70 years of India’s Independence marked on August 15th, 2017 is being planned by way of a unique exhibit which will travel to India and back home to Canada – collecting culture stories through the creative process and travels.